CORRUPTION

Maggi two-minute noodles is only the latest food item to be found violative of food-safety standards in India. Consider this: 64 percent of loose edible oils sold in Mumbai is adulterated, according to a study conducted last year by the Consumer Guidance Society of India. Read more: The Maggi controversy: What is MSG? The study tested 291 samples of sesame oil, coconut oil, groundnut oil, mustard oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil and soybean oil. This apart, arsenic above "critical limits" was found in cereals, pulses, vegetables, roots and tubers.                                            

Chuck Blazer admitted in court testimony released Wednesday he conspired with fellow FIFA executives to accept bribes during the process to choose hosts for the 1998 and 2010 World Cups. The bearded multimillionaire, the face of North American soccer for two decades, pleaded guilty to racketeering, part of a massive US corruption case targeting world football's governing body. Blazer's testimony is a key plank in the US investigation against FIFA, which the federal court document describes as a "Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organisation." The 70-year-old admitted to a raft of charges related to his leadership of the North and Central American soccer body CONCACAF and membership of FIFA's executive committee. 

The Congress government in Karnataka has decided to appeal against the High Court verdict acquitting J Jayalalithaa in a corruption case, which cleared the way for her comeback as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister last week. Karnataka law minister TB Jayachandra said this morning that the state cabinet has decided - on the advice of the state's advocate general that it has a strong case - to appeal against the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court. The state government, Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar pointed out, had 90 days to decide on an appeal, but had done so in about 20 days after the High Court verdict.

Having started making public the names of Indians and other foreign nationals with Swiss bank accounts that are under scanner, Switzerland will now publish a list of accounts that have remained unclaimed for 60 years. The list would be published later this year by the Swiss Banking Ombudsman and would include unclaimed assets held by foreigners in their bank accounts in Switzerland, while giving their lawful beneficiaries an opportunity to submit a claim.

The Sunanda Pushkar murder case has taken a fresh twist. It has emerged that the Director of AIIMS, who had instructed Sudhir Gupta to prepare a false report of 'Natural Death' in Sunanda Pushkar murder investigation, has ordered replacement of Gupta.  Dr Sudhir Gupta is the head of the department of Forensic in AIIMS and was responsible for the autopsy of late Sunanda Pushkar. Hell broke loose when he deciphered that the death was due to poisoning.

Modi to citizens on the eve of his government completing a year in office.  My dear fellow Citizens!  Service, in our Indian ethos is the ultimate duty – Seva Parmo Dharma. One year ago, you had entrusted me with the responsibility and honour of serving you as your Pradhan Sevak. I have devoted every moment of every day, and every element of my body and spirit, in fulfilling the same with fullest sincerity and honesty. We assumed office at a time when confidence in the India story was waning. Un-abated corruption and indecisiveness had paralyzed the government.  People had been left helpless against ever climbing inflation and economic insecurity. Urgent and decisive action was needed. We systematically went about addressing these challenges. Runaway prices were immediately brought under control. The languishing economy was rejuvenated, building on stable, policy-driven proactive governance.Discretionary allotment of our precious natural resources to a chosen few w...

Draft of banks could face tough questions in the sweeping US crackdown on alleged corruption in global soccer as prosecutors review how much they knew about millions of dollars in bribes flowing through the US banking system to accounts around the world.  More than a dozen banks are named in the US Department of Justice's indictment of nine officials at FIFA, the game's powerful governing body, and five sports media and promotion executives, over charges involving more than USD 150 million in bribes. "Part of our investigation will look at the conduct of the financial institutions to see whether they were cognizant of the fact they were helping launder these bribe payments," Kelly T. Currie, acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said at a news conference.

The Shiv Sena today took a swipe at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for his 'suit-boot ki sarkar' jibe and said such a government is better then a "suitcase government". Mocking Rahul Gandhi's comment Sena also said that even 100 Rahul Gandhis cannot match Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "mega wave". The Sena said that while Rahul Gandhi had started moving and speaking after his sabbatical, he cannot match Modi. "Rahul Gandhi has started moving and speaking after his 56-day sabbatical which has restored confidence among Congress workers. However, the question is how long this renewed energy will last before mega wave of Narendra Modi," the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said in an editorial.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his government was taking steps to empower the poor of the country as he always wanted to work for the poor people. "I have always wanted to work for the poor. We think of new initiatives, we take feedback on initiatives," Modi said in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address.

Terming NDA government at the Centre as "corruption free", BJP today said that in the last one year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought back the respect and credibility of the Union government which it had lost during the UPA regime.  "The BJP-led Centre has given a corruption free government in the last one year," party national spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, adding, "also the institution of Prime Minister has regained its lost glory and respect." "In the last one year of the NDA rule, the Union government has regained the power which it had lost during UPA rule," he said.